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water search |
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| For many search managers, the concept of a
water search with dogs sounds like an
impossibility. After all, we have always
been told that the best way to elude capture by
a man tracking team with bloodhounds is to run
into the river and hide. But water is not
an impenetrable, sterile medium. We should
consider it more as a porous organism and
visualize that there is constant movement within
and throughout any body of water. Now
let's look at the basic structure of scent.
Scent is made up of several components:
skin particles, perspiration, skin oils, sweat
glands, and other gaseous components.
Further, as these components break down during
decomposition, bacterial action increases scent
production. When the body of a deceased
person is under water, these components rise (or
raft) up through the water until they reach the
surface. From there, the scent particles
are dissipated by the breeze and the current.
This action occurs at varying rates, depending
upon several factors: water temperature,
depth of submersion, thermo cline, water
currents and speed, and wind velocity. A
dog trained in water search is able to detect
these scent particles and indicate to the
handler the direction to the source in the same
manner as an air scenting dog would indicate
scent during a wilderness or cadaver search.
These dogs can be deployed from shore, but
ideally work from a boat with an experienced
handler. |
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